Get fresh food to low-income neighborhoods by selling produce at the transit center

People who don’t own cars have less time to travel to the grocery store

For someone relying on public transit to get around, time is a scarce commodity. For many residents of Atlanta, there often isn’t enough time to travel home by bus, make a trip out to the grocery store, and be home in time to prepare a healthy dinner for the family. For many low-income families, fast food is the norm.

Solution: Sell produce at public transit stations

The City of Atlanta is undertaking a smart initiative that aims to get fresh food directly to those who are least able to access it: low-income residents who don’t own a car. Local produce vendors can sell organic fresh fruits and vegetables in an area of the transit center where even the unticketed can pass. By setting up shop in an existing facility where people already gather, farmers are able to offer low prices.

In addition, this solution cuts the hassle of grocery shopping for local residents with limited time who already rely on public transportation to get to and from work. Kel Smith, an entrepreneur working to bring healthy local food to low-income communities, explains “Being able to put fresh fruits and vegetables in the path tends to remove a lot of the obstructions. It puts it in the course of someone’s day, as opposed to forcing them to make a special trip for it.”